Do atoms get bigger or further apart as an object's temperature increases?

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    Atoms Heating
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between temperature and atomic behavior, specifically whether atoms increase in size or distance from one another as temperature rises. Participants explore concepts related to thermal expansion and atomic interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that as temperature increases, atoms may either get bigger or move further apart due to increased atomic forces.
  • Another participant states that heating increases the energy of atoms or molecules, leading to greater spacing between them.
  • A participant expresses a desire to develop a personal theory but acknowledges that similar ideas have already been proposed by others.
  • One participant seeks clarification on the nature of atomic behavior in relation to temperature, indicating a preference for explanation over theory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on whether atoms themselves get bigger or if they simply move further apart as temperature increases. Multiple viewpoints are presented, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the effects of temperature on weight, with one mentioning issues with their weighing machine, which may affect the reliability of their observations.

Marshallaw4
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the hotter an object is, the bigger it is. So, what is happening with atoms? Do they get bigger or are they any further from themselves? I'm interested in it and as I think the bigger temperature they have the bigger are those nuclear or atomic forces so they are further from themselves. I also tried to heat metal and if the weight changes while changing temperature but I have a bad weighting machine :D. I don't know if that really went down with the descreasing themperature or if it was the weighting machine... So tell me something verified about this and sorry for my bad english if I made some errors
 
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Heating increases the energy of the atoms or molecules, so they need more room to move around. In other words, the spacing gets bigger.

Weight should not change during heating.
 
yeah just like I thought, my first working theory, but it's already made by someone else :D.. but if not I would have my own theory :D
 
rather explanation
 

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